Combined fire-alarm and watchman&#39;s signal-transmitter.



I C. E. POTTER. COMBINED FIRE ALARM AND WATCHMANS SIGNAL TRANSMITTER. APPLICATION FILED 00120, 1915.

ILWMMW Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

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COMBINED FIRE ALARM AND WATCHMAN'S SIGNAL TRANSMITTER.

APPLICATION FILED 0cT.20,1915.

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CHARLES E. POTTER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOB, TO POTTER ELECTRIC $IG-NAL AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

COMBINED FIRE-ALARM AND WATCHIVIANS SIGNAL-TRANSMITTER.

Application filed October 20, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. Po'r'rnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Combined Fire- Alarms and lVatchmens Signal-Transmitters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference be ing had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates generally to an electric signal transmitter and more particularly to an apparatus which is capable of use as a fire alarm or police call box, and also as a watchmans or patrolmans signal transinitter.

The principal object of my invention is to Provide a comparatively simple and efficient apparatus whereby a watchman or patrolman can, by the manipulation of a key, send to a central station or receiving oflice a signal, thereby indicating that the person Fig. 4: 18 a front elevatlonal view of the sending the signal is attending to his duties, and said apparatus being also adapted to be actuated by any person to send in a series of signals which constitute a fire alarm or police call.

The transmitter contemplated by my invention includes an electric circuit and a spring driven contact mechanism, which latter is adapted to be thrown into operation either by the manipulation of a key in the hands of a watchman or patrolman, or by the actuation of a lever, in which latter event the contact mechanism is caused to re peat its operation for a predetermined number of times, thereby sending in to the central station a fire alarm or police call.

Other objects of my invention are to provide a construction having separate and independent means for effecting the sending of I the watchmans signal and the fire alarm signal, thereby eliminating the possibility of of any conflict between sald signals at the time of transmissionyfurther, to provide simple means for preventing the sending of more than one signal for each actuation of the watchmans key, and likewise insuring the sendingof the proper signal when said Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, ilfi ilid.

Serial No. 56,894.

- view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described,

claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a call box which incloses the signal transmitting mechanism of my improved construction, said View also diagrammatically illustrating a circuit in which the box is located and an annunciator at the central station. Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the box with the door swung into open position. Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

mechanism within the call box. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the key utilized by a watchman or patrolman for sending a single signal by means of my improved mechanism. Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 66 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 1s a sectional view taken approximately on the line 7-? of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 88 of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line 99 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a section taken approximately on the line 1010 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view taken approximately on the line 1111 of Fig. 3. Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 with parts in shifted position. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a number of disks and a pawl and lever which form a part of the repeated signal producing means. Fig. 1a is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 14t1d of Fig. 4:. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the lever which is actuated to effect the repeated signals.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 10 designates a box, preferably of metal, and having a removable front wall 11 and a front door or cover plate 12,

118 same being hinged to one side of said Formed integral with and projecting inwardly from the lower portion of door 12 is a lug 13 through which is formed a key hole 14, the same being provided with notches 15 and 16 which are arranged approximately ninety degrees apart.

Located within the box between the front and rear walls is the greater portion of my improved signal transmitting mechanism, and the supporting framework for said mechanism comprises a rear plate 17, an intermediate plate 18, and front plate 19, the latter being approximately half the height of the intermediate and rear plates. These three plates are framed together by suitable bolts or pins 20.

Journaled in the plates 17 and 18 in direct alinement with the key hole 14 is a shaft-21 to which is fixed the inner end of a spiral spring 22 the outer end thereof being fixed to one of the pins 20 of the framework. Fixed on this shaft 21 is a pinion 23 and carried thereby is a ratchet wheel 24.

V 'Loosely mounted on shaft 21 adjacent to this ratchet wheel is a gear wheel 25 and carried thereby is a spr ng-pressed pawl '26,

thepoint of which is adapted to engage the 7 v teeth of ratchet wheel 24.

gearing.

A suitable train of gearing which includes a gear wheel 28 and a pinion 29 both carried by a shaft 30 is connected togear wheel 25 and coiiperating with one ofthe gears in said train is a plate 31 which in operation performs the functions of a fan to regulate the speed of the train of gearing, and likewise the speed of gear wheel 25 when the latter is actuated under the influence of spring 22. V

Journaled in plates 17 and 18 to the side of shaft 21 is a shaft 32 on which is fixed a segment 33, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of pinion 23.

Fixed on shaft 32 is an arm 34 and adapted to bear against said arm to form a stop for limiting the movement of the spring driven gearing is a pin 35, the same being carried by gear wheel 28 of the train of (See Figs. 6 and 7.)

Mounted on the forward end of shaft 30 in front of plate 18 and insulated therefrom is a disk 36 on the edge of which is formed one or more series of teeth 37. The number of teeth in each series can be varied as desired and said teeth correspond to the number of box; for -instance,where this disk is provided with two series of fourteeth, each, the number of the box will be 44,

and theelect'rical connections from said box are made to the annunclator having the correspondmg' number at the central station.

Thus, when the number 44 appears onthe annunciator at the central station, the attendant knows that a signal is being transmitted from box 44.

Located on front of plate 18 is a pair of contact springs 38, the free ends of which are bent downward and occupy positions immediately above disk 36,and in the path of travel of the teeth 37. These contact springs are electrically connected to the wires 39 of a circuit, which leads to an annunciator 40 at the central station, and said circuit'being providedwith a suitable source of electrical energy, such as a battery 41.

Fixed to the forward end of a shaft 21 and journaled in plate 18 is a tubular member '42, on the front portion of which is formed a series of ratchet teeth 43. Fixed to this tubular member is one end of a bracket 44, and arranged to slide through the other end of this bracket is the outer end of a pin 45, the inner portion of which projects through the wall of member 42 and the inner end of said pin being rounded as designated by 46. Fixed on the central portion of the pin is a collar 47 having on its inside a curved surface 48 and interposed between this collar and the outer portion of bracket 44 is a compression spring 49.

Fixed on plate 18 below member 42 is a lug 50 having an inclined face 51 which is in the path of travel of the curved face 48 on collar 47 and located on plate 18 to the side of member 42 is a curved rib 52, the same being concentric with the axis of movement of shaft 21.

Loosely mounted in plate 19 immediately in front of member 42 is a tubular member 53, the same being provided on its rear end with a series of teeth 54 which are adapted to engage between the teeth 43 on member 42.

Formed on member 53 is a series of ratchet teeth 55 with which engages the point of a spring pressed pawl 56, the latter being pivotally mounted on the inner face of plate 19. The point of this pawl is widened in order that it will engage the teeth 55 when the member 53 is moved inward to its limit of movement.

Extending through member 53 and rigidly fixed thereto is a spindle 57, the outer end of which is made square or non-circular as designated by 57 in order to receive a key, and formed in the end of said spindle is a series of notches 58, the bottom surfaces of which are beveled or inclined so as to engage the rounded end 46 of pin 45.

Formed in spindle 57 adjacent to its inner end is a groove 59, which is adapted to receive the inner end of pin 45. Located upon the spindle 57 within member 53 and bearing against the forward end of tubular member 42 is a compression spring 60.

The watchmans key which is adapted to engage the outer end of spindle 57 is illustrated in Fig. 5 and comprises a shank 61 provided at one end with a handle 62 and having a non-circular aperture 63 in its forward end for engaging the non-circular end 57 of spindle 57.

Formed on or fixed to shank 61 is a rib 64 in which is formed a notch 65. This notch is located so as to accommodate plate 11 when the key is forced inward to its limit of movement as is necessary to actuate the mechanism when transmitting the watchmans signal.

Formed in plate 11 in alinement with spindle 57 and key hole 14 in door 12 is a key hole 11 provided with notches 11 and 11 which are in direct alinement with notches 15 and 16 respectively of key hole 14.

Shaft 32 previously mentioned extends forwardly from plate 18 through a bearing 66 in plate 19 and loosely mounted on said shaft immediately in front of said plate 19 is a disk 67 in which is formed an arcuate slot 68. Seated in this disk and projecting rearwardly through an arcuate slot 69 in plate 19 is a pin 70 and connected to said pin is one end of a retractile spring 71, the other end of which is connected to a pin projecting from plate 19. Formed in the edge of disk 67 is a substantially V-shaped notch 72, and a substantially U-shaped notch 73, said notches being arranged approximately ninety degrees apart.

Loosely mounted on shaft 32 immediately adjacent disk 67 is a disk 74 from which projects a short pin 75, the same occupying slot 68 in disk 67. Formed in the periphery of disk 74 is a substantially \l-shaped notch 76 and a substantially U-shaped notch 77, said notches being arranged approximately ninety degrees apart and being adapted to coincide with the corresponding notches 72 and 73 in disk 67.

Formed in disk 74 is an arcuate slot 78 which receives a pin 79, the latter being fixed to and projecting from a disk 80 which is positioned immediately adjacent to disk 74 and rigidly fixed on shaft 32. Formed in the periphery of this fixed disk 80 is a V-shaped notch 81 and a U-shaped notch 82, the same being arranged approximately ninety degrees apart and being adapted to coincide with the corresponding notches 72 and 76 and 73 and 77 in disks 67 and 74.

Projecting from the front side of disk 80 is a hub 83 and loosely mounted thereon is a plate 84 which carries a spring pressed pawl 85, the point of which is adapted to engage in the corresponding sets of notches in the three disks when said notches are in alinement.

Formed on the free end of the pawl 85 is an outwardly projecting curved finger which is adapted to bear against a pin or roller 87 which projects outwardly from plate 19 below shaft 32 and the outer end of said finger is adapted to engage behind a lug or pin 88 which projects from plate 19 below pin or roller 87.

The upper end of plate 84 is connected to one end of a retractile spring 89, the opposite end of the latter being fixed to a pin which projects from plate 18.

J ournaled in plate 11 immediately in front of shaft 32 is a collar 90, the inner end of which carries a disk 91, the same being provided with an aperture 92 which recelves a pin 93, the same being fixed to and projecting forwardly from plate 84. Fixed to the outer end of collar is a lever 94, the free end of which is provided with a hook 95.

The operations incident to the sending in of a watchmans call or signal with my improved transmitter are as follows: Under normal conditions, spring 22 stands only partially wound, and consequently shaft 21 is under comparatively little tension. Pin 35 hearing against arm 34 acts as a stop to maintain the train of gearing and segment 33 in normal position, or as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The shank 61 of the watchmans key is inserted through key hole 14 with rib 64 occupying notch 15. Said key is forced inward with pressure and its inner end engages the non-circular end 57 of spindle 57, and the inner end of said key passes through key hole 11 and the inner portion of rib 64 passes through notch 11". In order to turn the key, it is necessary to force the same inward until notch 65 in rib 64 occupies a position in alinement with plate 11, thereby permitting key to be turned approximately ninety degres or until rib 64 occupies the notches 11 and 16, thus permitting the removal of the key. [is the key is forced inward to its limit of movement, tubular member 53 is forced inward against the resistance offered by spring 60, and teeth 54 of said member will interlock with teeth 43 on member 42. Spindle 57 is carried by member 53 and consequently moves inward therewith, and as such action takes place, the rounded end 46 of pin 45 is engaged by the inclined face of one of the notches 58 in the end of said spindle, and said pin is forced outward, overcoming the resistance offered by spring 49 and when spindle 57 has reached its inward limit of travel, the inner end of pin 45 will engage in annular groove 59, thus locking the parts 53 and 57 at their inner limit of movement and with the teeth 54 locked in engagement with teeth 43. The watchman now rotates his key approximately ninety degrees in clockwise direction, such operation being imperative in order that the key can be removed after operation. After the key has been partially rotated, it cannot be rotated in reverse direction or to its original position and then withdrawn, by

I said member will be likewise rotated. Consequently pinion 23 and ratchet 24 will be 7 partially rotated, and spring 22 will be further wound by reason of the fact that its inner end is fixed to shaft 21. During the movementithus imparted to ratchet wheel 24, its teeth will pass the point of pawl 26. Just as the watchmans key reaches the end of its rotary movement as just described, and when rib 64 is in alinement with notches 11 and 16, the curved face 48 on collar 47 strikes against the inclined face 51 of lug 50, thereby moving pin outward a short distance and withdrawingthe inner end of said pin 'from' groove 59 in spindle 57. Spring 60 new acts to force member 53 away from member 42, thereby disengaging teeth 54 from teeth 43 and shaft 21 is now free to return to its normal position under the increased tension imparted to spring 22 by the partial withdrawing movement just described. As member 53 is thus forced outward, the watchinans key is likewise forced outward, and as the rib 64 occupies the notches 11 and 16, said key is permitted to be withdrawn from the box. As shaft 21 returns to its normal position under the influence of spring 22, the point of pawl 26 will engage against one of the teeth of ratchet wheel 24, thus imparting movement to gear wheel 25 which carries said pawl, and this rotary movement is transmitted to pinion 29 and its shaft 30.

The various parts of the device including gear wheel 25 and'pinion 29 are of such relative sizes as to' cause shaft 30 to make a complete revolution when the mechanism is actuated by the insertion'of the watchmans key, and as a. result, disk 36 which is carried by said shaft 30 and vhieh is provided with teeth 37 will make a ebfiplete revolution with the result that a series of impulses corresponding to said teeth will be transmitted through the circuit from the box to the annunciator 40 at the central station.

It will be understood that as disk 36 makes a complete revolution, the teeth 37 on said disk will successively engage the free ends of contact springs 38, thereby making and breaking the circuit in which the annunciator 40 is located. As shaft 21 is partially rotated, segment 33 shaft 32, and arm 34 will be correspondingly moved, but with the movementof gear wheel 25 as just described, these, parts will return to their normal position, and thus arm 34 will be in position to be engaged by pin 35, thereby serving to stop the parts in their normal positions. Thus, a single signal is transmitted upon the insertion of a watchmans key, and as said signal is received at the central station, it will be understood that the watchman is attending to his duties. In the event of a fire alarm or police call, a series of signals are transmitted as follows: Door 12 is released and swung open to give access to lever 94, and the hook 95 on the latter is engaged to pull said lever from its normal vertical position as illustrated in Fig. 2 to an approximately horizontal posi tion. Under normal conditions, plate 84 occupies a substantially vertical position with the point of pawl 85 in the notches 72, 7(3 and 81 of disks 67, 74 and S0. \Vhen lever 94 is pulled down, plate 84 will be likewise moved by reason of pin connection 93 between said lever and plate. As plate 84 is thus swung downward, all of the disks immediately to the rear of said plate will be partially rotated, and as disk 80 is fixed on shaft 32, the latter will be rotated approximately a quarter of a turn, and the teeth of segment 33, which latter is fixed on shaft 32, meshing with the teeth of pinion 23 will rotate said pinion and consequently impart rotary movement to shaft 21. As the latter shaft is rotated, spring 22 will be wound to a certain degree, and tension will be imparted thereto. Just prior to the time plate 84 reaches its limit of. downward swinging movement, curved finger 86 will bear against roller 87 in such a manner asto shift pawl 85, and withdraw the point thereof from the notches 72,76 and 81, and immediately thereafter the extreme outer end of the curved finger of said pawl will move into a position behind lug or pin 88. This filial movement takes place at the time the plate 84 reaches the limit of its downward swinging movement, and the instant the point of pawl 85 is withdrawn from the notches as just described, spring 71 will act to return disk 67 to its normal position, it being understood that arcuate slot 9 through which pin 70 projects is approximately ninety degrees in length. Such movement shifts notch 72 out of alinement with notch 81 and the point of pawl 85 is now bearing on the peripheries of disks 67 and 74, it being understood that the latter disk is shifted a short distance by the movement of disk (37, and which movement is brought about by reason of the pin and slot connection between said disks. Thus the three notches 72, 76 and 81 are out of alinement or register with each other, and they remain in such positions until shaft 32 returns to its normal position. As a result, plate 84 and lever 94 are maintained in horizontal positions until the repeated fire alarm signal has been transmitted, and therefore, it is impossible for lever 94 to be actuated during the time the transmitting mechanism is operating to send the repeated signal.

The various operating parts of the mechanism are of such size as that shaft 30 which carries disk 36 will be rotated a predetermined number of times; for instance, four or five complete rotations when the fire alarm mechanism is actuated, and as a result, a series of signals will be transmitted through the circuit to the central station, thus giving an alarm of fire and indicating tl e boX from which the alarm is sent. Dun ing the time shaft 30 is rotating to effect the sending of the repeated signals, pinion 23 meshing with the teeth of segment 33 returns the latter to its normal position, and consequently shaft 82 will be slowly rotated back to its normal position. Shaft 82 carries disk 80 and the movement of the latter controls the movement of disk 74 by reason of the pin and slot connection between said disks, and disks 67 and 74 are returned to their normal positions under the influence of spring 71. During this movement of the disks, the point of pawl 85 rides on the peripheries of said disks until the latter have reached their normal positions at which time notches 73, 77 and 82 are in 'alinement or register with each other and are in position to receive the point of said pawl 85. When he point of the pawl drops into the last mentioned notches, the end of the curved finger 86 is withdrawn from behind the pin or lug 88, and the plate 84 and lever 94 are now returned to their normal positions under the influence of spring 89. It'will be understood that this last mentioned movement is effected after the predetermined number of signals have been transmitted by the mechanism, as hereinbefore described, so that with the return of the lever to vertical position, the parts are in proper position for a subsequent operation. When shaft 21 is rotated as a result of a downward movement of lever 94, member 42 and parts carried thereby will rotate with said shaft, and after the collar 47 passes lug 50, said collar will engage inside the arcuate rib 52, and consequently when the collar is so positioned it will be impossible to force pin 45 outward. By virtue of this construction, it will be impossible for a watchman to force spindle 57 in by means of the watchmans key and which action would result in a conflict of the watchmans signal and the fire alarm signal.

A signaling apparatus of my improved construction is comparatively simple, is effective in transmitting either a single signal or a number of repeated signals, and the signal operating mechanism is constructed so as to prevent any conflict between signals and likewise insures the sending of the proper signals when the respective actuating devices are manually operated.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved apparatus can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. in a signal transmitting device, spring driven means for transmitting signals through an electric circuit, the spring of which means is normally partially wound, key operated means for winding the spring to effect a movement of the transmitting means, means whereby the key operated means is automatically released when the spring has been wound to a predeteunined degree, and separate means including a pull lever for winding the spring to such a degree as to cause the transmitting means to operate a predetermined number of times, thereby transmitting repeated signals.

in a signal transmitter, spring driven transmitting means, the spring of which is normally partially wound, means including a pull lever for winding the spring to a predetermined degree, whereby the transmitting means is actuated to produce repeated signals, and means including a series of notched disks having pin and slot connections with each other, and a member adapted to engage in the notches in the disks when said notches are in alinement for maintaining the pull lever in inoperative position while the transmitting means is operating to transmit the repeated signals.

3. In a signal transmitter, spring driven means for producing signals in an electric circuit, the spring of which means is partially wound, means including a shaft for winding said spring to produce a movement of the transmitting means, a key operated member having axial and rotary movement adapted to lock with the spring winding shaft, and means for holding said member locked to the shaft during the winding movement.

4. In a signal transmitter, spring driven means for producing signals in an electric circuit, the spring of which means is partially wound, means including a shaft for winding said spring to produce a movement of the transmitting means, a key operated member having axial and rotary movement adapted to lock with the spring winding shaft, means for holding said member locked to the shaft during the winding movement, and means for automatically breaking the connection between said member and the shaft when the latter has been rotated to a predetermined degree.

5. In a signal transmitter, spring driven means for producing signals in an electric circuit, the spring of which means is normally partially wound, means for further winding said spring to produce a single operation of the signal transmitting means, a

7 determined tmg means is actuated to produce repeated I member having axial and rotary movement for actuating the spring Winding means, a key for operating said last mentioned member, and means for holding the key in engagement With said member until the spring Wll'lCllIlD movement haslbeen accomplished.

6. In a signal transmitter, spring driven means for producing signals in an electric circuit, the spring of Which means is normally partially wound, means for further Winding said spring to produce a single operation of the signal transmitting means, a member having axial and rotary movement for actuating the spring Winding means, a key for operating said last mentioned member, means for holding the key in engagement Wit-h said member until the spring Winding movement has been accomplished, and means for preventing reverse movement of the key and Winding means during operation.

7. In a signal transmitter, spring driven transmitting means, the spring of which is normally partially Wound, means including a pull lever for Winding the spring to a predegree, whereby the transmitsignals, means including a series of notched disks having pin and slot connections With each other, and a member adapted to engage in the notches in the disks When said notches are in alinement for maintaining the pull lever in inoperative position While the transmitting means is operating to transmit the repeated signals, and means for returning the pull lever to normal position at the termination of the operation of the signal transmitting means.

8. In a transmitting device, spring driven means for transmitting signals through an electric circuit, the spring of which means is normally partially WOU11(l, key operated means for Winding the spring to effect a movement of the transmitting means, means whereby the key operated means is automatically released when the spring has been Wound to a predetermined degree, separate means including a pull lever for winding the spring to such a degree as to cause the transmitting means to operate a predetermined number of times, thereby transmitting repeated signals, and means for rendering the key operated means inoperative during the actuation and operation of the repeated signal transmitting means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses, this 24th day of September, 1915.

C. E. POTTER. lVitnesses M. P. SMITH, LAURA MEYER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

7 Washington, D. O. 

